Newtown

I knew that in honor of all the teachers that died, I needed to do something. That was the first time that I realized this was bigger than my family, bigger than my town, bigger than my former elementary school. This was massive.

Daughter of surviving teacher

I could see him through the crack of my desk. I could see him from the knees down. Then we went into my supply closet for about 3 and a half hours. We were so afraid to come out.

School nurse

I don't think that any of us that were in there, feel that anybody needs to know graphically what occured in there. Emotionally, I think the world needs to know to understand it.

First responder on scene

I had my pistol permit in Massachusetts. But, my God, does anyone know what it looks like to see a child filled with bullets.

EMT worker on the scene

It's hard to believe you can go from being somebody’s baby, to being that, and how that journey can happen without anyone recognizing it.

Library clerk

He doesn't know what to make of it all. I think he just knew that he lost his best friend, and in some way he didn't belong anymore.

Mother of surviving 1st grader

The fact that I kept her on the phone and kept her from going out the door...I don’t even want to think what would have happened if she walked out that door.

911 operator

You can't move past it. You can't sweep it under the rug. We have to honor the horror by paying a tribute to what happened, what people went through and what it was like for everyone.

Surviving teacher

God forbid it happens to anyone in your family. Because you’ll become the member of a club that no one wants to join; and until you’re in that club, you have no idea how long and bumpy the road is.

Husband of slain teacher

He wakes up shouting and crying, the whole night not sleeping. For 7 to 8 months, he was mentally sick.

Mother of surviving 1st grader

And I said to myself that day, “I am not taking this one lying down.”

ER doctor

The teachers, the staff, they put their trauma second and put the kids first. To me that is heroism.

School custodian

There were these kids on my lawn. They just kept exclaiming, “We can't go back. We can't go back to that school, because we don't have a teacher.”

School neighbor

ABOUT THE FILM

Filmed over the course of nearly three years, the filmmakers use unique access and never before heard testimonies to tell a story of the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history on December 14, 2012. Newtown documents a traumatized community fractured by grief and driven toward a sense of purpose. Joining the ranks of a growing club to which no one wants to belong, a cast of characters interconnect to weave an intimate story of community resilience.

Time

Location

“Why is this story important to tell?
It is transforming in ways you can never anticipate,
and there is an immediate human desire to protect the rest of the world
from having to go through this.”

– David Wheeler, father of Ben Wheeler

HOST A SCREENING

Want to bring Newtown to your community, organization or classroom?
To learn more about how to schedule a screening and related fees, please fill out the form below or email screenings@newtownfilm.com. We’ll be in touch with you shortly with next steps.

“You can only imagine how difficult that is to try to interpret what your 7-year-old experienced as he was being murdered by a gunman in his first grade classroom.”

– Mark Barden, father of Daniel Barden

GET INVOLVED

JOIN OUR NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO END GUN VIOLENCE

We have a choice about the kind of America we want – dangerously divided or united.For the safety, sanity and spirit of our country, it is critical we create change – now.

“While I fear the empty space in my heart may never be filled,
I take comfort in the knowledge that his death will have meaning.
There will be a positive change from this and we will be part of it.
Newtown, will be part of it.”

– Nicole Hockley, mother of Dylan Hockley

IN THE NEWS

“Newtown is an act ofmemorialization, a demand that
this most distractible of countries
look close and continue to care.”

“Through Snyder’s lens, you see a town realizing it has a chance to be the one that finally says “enough is enough.”

“Elegantly and devastatingly captures the tenor of a town that will carry these scars for a generation. Snyder’s film deserves to be seen.”

“Newtown emerges as a blistering,
if tacit, indictment of the
nation’s broken promise
to never forget.”

“Snyder uses her camera as a friendly ear and as an eye to bear witness. It’s a shocking and compelling piece of work.”

“It is a visceral, powerful experience. You will cry. It is worth it.”

“Powerful and illuminating.”

“Aims to “tell a story of collective grief” and how communities piece themselves back together after.”

“Legislative questions are not addressed, and even the killer’s name is not mentioned. Instead, viewers are given wrenching access to a place that more than three years later continues to grapple with an attack that claimed the lives of 26 victims, many of them small children.”